Search - Sam Bush :: Laps in Seven

Good, but not at the top

speedread | USA | 06/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sam Bush has always had an eclectic taste in music. It's nice to see him branching out to other genres beside his 'thing' with reggae for so many years (not that that was a bad thing). The impression about this album is that it doesn't flow like most of Sam's past solo projects, not that this is also necessarily a really bad thing.



What _is_ enjoyable is Sam's bringing in of a variety of musicians to lend a hand -- the duets with Emmylou Harris and with Andrea Zonn, Jean Luc Ponty, Tim O'Brien and others. In particular, I have been very impressed with Scott Vestal's banjo work as of late and this album provides stellar examples of it.



However, there wasn't a single song that really grabbed me -- unlike on "Glamour & Grits," for example, which contains several amazing instrumentals. This CD is more along the lines of his previous release, "King of My World," which is also a very satisfying production.



To set the record straight, I'm _not_ disappointed at all -- it's just hard when you have Sam's talents to top yourself with every new release; it's also fair to say that people will always tend to find a favorite or two in all the works of musicians they revere, and this particular CD just happens not to be it for me."

This leading innovator has clear vision for his music

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 12/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 55:26 -- When it comes to mandolin, Sammy "The Man" Bush has been a leading innovator for decades. He uses acoustic, electric and slide techniques. But, "Laps in Seven" also illustrates the master musician's proficiency on fiddle, guitar and as a lead and harmony vocalist. By the time he had graduated high school in Kentucky in 1970, Sam had won three Junior National Fiddle Championships and had produced the ground-breaking "Poor Richard's Almanac" album. Over the years, he's seemed to develop even greater affinity for and skill on mandolin, continually building his reputation as the "greatest all-purpose mandolinist" (as per David Grisman). Sam Bush is wired as a mandolin player; he once said he learned fiddle tunes by first learning them on the mandolin in order to visualize the song, where the notes sit and how they interact. As you listen to an album like this, try to get into his head and understand where he's coming from musically.



There are the rocking rhythms and syncopations that Sam is well-known for. There is his excellent sense of timing, largely a function of his right-hand technique along with his ability to play all over the mandolin's fingerboard with creative melodic licks that are of his own device. He co-wrote (with John Pennell) the song "Ridin' That Bluegrass Train," that shows his loud, clear, sharp attack to music. He also knows how to get the best players and singers involved. Wizards like Scott Vestal (banjo), Keith Sewell (guitar), and Byron House (bass) can only make you sound better. Using Chris Brown on drums is a clear statement of Sam's intent to continue trying to find that balance in his newgrass music that also allows for mass market appeal and more widespread radio airplay than just on the mom-and-pop one-hour-a-week bluegrass shows. Those shows will air his driving rendition of "Bringing in the Georgia Mail."



Sam may have mellowed a tad in recent times as his music evolves for this century. "Laps In Seven" also features four guest vocalists (Emmylou Harris, Tim O'Brien, Shaun Murphy, Andrea Zonn), and there's another wild ride ("New Country") that has Jean Luc Ponty's electric violin in the mix for his original composition. Sam may not rock out as hard as he used to, but "White Bird" revisits that classic song from the sixties (originally done by It's A Beautiful Day). There are also songs with messages, such as Leon Russell's "Ballad for a Soldier." Establishing a funky groove, "I Wanna Do Right" incorporates Vestal's banjo synthesizer and the Do-Right Singers (Shaun, Sam, Byron) in a tribute to Hurricane Katrina victims. "The Dolphin Dance" is a far-out instrumental that has the musical notes leaping and diving with playful, buoyant abandonment.



Darrell Scott's "River Take Me" was learned at a recording session years ago, as was Robbie Fulks' "Where There's A Road." John Hartford's "On The Road" with its 5/4 time signature is a statement about being all messed up while on the road. The title cut (and closer) for "Laps in Seven" was inspired by his dog, Ozzie, lapping his water in a syncopated 7/4 time signature. You actually hear him drinking from his waterbowl at the end of the generous nearly hour-long set.



Sam Bush has a clear vision for his music with mandolin, fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass and drums. Still presenting string-band music, he's also picking his clarion notes so they blend and progress seamlessly and creatively into the future. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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Acoustic Rock 'n' Roll, Reggae, Bluegrass Band: Sam Bush

prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 09/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""If Bill Monroe is the father of the bluegrass mandolin, then Sam Bush is his wickedly demented stepson, eager to take the instrument to places it has never been before. For the past three decades, the perpetually youthful-looking Bush has played fiddle and mandolin in blues bands, country bands, jazz bands, and bands that play a mixture of all kinds of styles."

Sam Eason "Mountain Times'



Sam Bush is the quintessential bluegrass, mandolin player, except he also adds acoustic rock n' roll and reggae to his mix-an exciting mixture that enhances each and every song. His music opens the doors and he never shuts them. His idols are Bill Monroe and Jethro and Tull. He explains that even though Jethro and Tull were a comedy act they were serious bluegrass musicians. On the inner cover photo Sam Bush is playing the late mandolin legend Jethro Burn's Gibson A-5 custom, which resides in Sam Bush's instrument collection. Sam Bush was co-founder of the New Grass Revival in the early 1970s, Sam Bush has played with Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, and David Grisman. He has his own band now, and most of the players on his early albums have gone on to be stars in their own right. On this CD his core band includes Byron House on bass, Chris Brown on drums, Scott Vestal on banjo, and Keith Sewell on guitar.



With this CD, Sam Bush is on his way to making his mark. This is toe tappin', finger snappin' and hand clappin' music. Some of the best I have heard. He opens the CD with a sure fire winner singing with Emmy Lou Harris.



"The Rivers Gonna Run"-this duet with Emmy Lou grabs you right away- written by Julie Miller and it is a song about making your mark on an existential world.



"Bringing In the Georgia Mail"-real bluegrass, knee slappin'song and is a favorite among bluegrass aficionados.



"The Dolphin Dance"- a new bluesy, bluegrass version that lifts the spirits.



"On the Road"-John Hartford's original tune, and Scott Vestal's banjo keeps a solid heart-stopping beat.



"Ridin'That Bluegrass Train"- co-written by Sam Bush and John Pennell. Bluegrass is still running in their veins.



"I Wanna Do Right"- a tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and was written by Bush and Jeff Black. "Little Feat" singer, Saun Murphy sings background. "I wanna do right, I don' wanna do wrong".



"Where's There A Road"- a song about moving on "To the wild unknown-where ever they roam, to the last free man".



"New Country"-fiddle playin' at its best- the band plays with Jean Luc Ponty on this tune. I've been a big fan of his for years and that song has been on our set list for a while", says Sam.



"Ballad For A Soldier"- Leon Russell's tune written during the Vietnam war- a mesmerizing rendition. "I kill all of the enemies, I sing this anthem sadly- just another ballad for the soldier".



"River Take Me"- written by Darrell Scott, this is a song of water's power to kill or cleanse an injured soul.



"White Bird"- a beautiful rendition of David Alamo's song and another 1960s song that became a hit.



"Laps In Seven"- Sam tells us "the album gets its name from when I was listening to my dog lapping water out of his dish. Suddenly I realized he was lapping the water in 7/4 time. I kept listening, and he kept lapping the water in 7/4 time intervals."



This is one of the best CD's in a long time. Your feet are tappin, you find you are smilin' and it has become a better day because of it. Sam Bush and his mix of acoustic rock n' roll, bluegrass, blues and reggae have a little something for everyone. Sam Bush is the "Heart of Bluegrass" and this is a CD to be cherished.

So highly recommended,. prisrob 09-09-06

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